New Ulm weekly review., 1887-09-14


sold out. A Kickapoo buck had tax
en- q great fancy to the woman and
wanted to marry her, and her indig-
nant refusal had called down the
raid made that day. Her story filled
me with Indignation, and as the night
came on was terribly impatient for
Patton to return. About half past 8
o'clock | heard the gallop OF horses,
and was ready to welcome my part
ner, but before they had come in sight
the widow sprang up in great terror
and cried out:
''Oh, sir. they are the Indians who
have been on my trail! Don't let
them take me away! Let me hide in
the wagon!''
In with you. quick, and they will
have to kill me before they lay hands
on you," I replied, and she disappear
ed beneath the clover with astonish-
ing celerity-
The galloping came nearer and near
er, and presently voice hailed me:
s"The camp thar-hello?"
tsWho is it?''
.Friends."
''Come in.''
With that half-breed and a Kick
apoo came riding into camp on horses
which had neither saddle nor blanket.
Both men looked savage and sullen,
and were we'll armed. The half-breed
could speak very good English, and
when he had come to halt and look
ed around, said:
'sWe are after the woman who came
into your camp a couple OF hours ago
| see her horse over there"
"By what authority do you de-
mand her?"
"None OF your business. We have
come for her, and we mean to have
her"
"Do you mean that you will take
her by force?"
II do; and let me give you a piece OF
advice. see you are a tenderfoot.
Don't put on too many airs in this
county. It's a great place to have
ones wings clipped in a hurry. Don't
attempt any foolishness with us. or
you'll never know what hurt you"
had my Winchester in hand and
two revolvers in my belt. Had I
been hot-tempered man, there would
have been some shooting before he had
concluded his bombastic speech. I am
slow to anger, especially when human
life may pay the forfeit, and I heard
him through without being rolled.
The woman was hidden away in the
wagon, and had not revealed her pres
ence to them by word or move.
IF the woman chooses to go with
you, we'll and good," I answered, as I
looked the fellow over by the light OF
the camp fire. "If she does not you
cannot take her."
ooh, we can't, eh? you crow pretty
loud for a spring chicken. Well, ask
the wench to make choice"
The wagon was about ten PAGES
from the fire, and in the shadow, al
though not so much that l could not
see it pretty plainly. I had made
step toward it when I saw a black OBJ.
ject under the wheels, and, supposing
it to be a wolf, I raised my gun and
took snap shot, caring only to send
a bulled near enough to drivei it away
The object disappeared with the echoes
OF the report, and as walked along
to the wagon the two men, who had
INV OAS1AOuICCd, IlC.
Standing within five feet OF the vehicle
] called to the woman and asked if
she desired to 90 with the men, and
she replied:
30! sir, save me from them, even if
you have to shoot me-"
'But you've got to come!'' shouted
the half-breed. -...
''She shall not gor' ! shouted at
him. II give you two Williams so Sec
onds in which to leave camp. Now
gon'
They were close together, and my
rifle covered both. They looked
straight at me for Is or 20 seconds,
and then turned and rode away into
the darkness. I followed them for a
hundred yards, when they urged their
horses to gallop, and rode to the
north without looking back. I stood
and looked after them until l could
no longer hear the beat oftheir horses
hoo:s, and felt rather proud OF my
nerve IN driving them away. It did
not occur to me until next
day that either or both Of
them could have got the drop on me
up to the time raised my rifle, and
that while they were making threats
OF what they would do they left their
rifles lying across ther saddles. They
simply permitted me to force them
out Of camp at the n1uzzle of my Win
chester, and that was part OF their
plan. When returned to the fire the
woman was beside it, her face betray-
ing fear and distress, and as soon as !
came up she clasped her hands and
tearfully exclaimed: ''Oh,. you will
not let them take me away-you will
rot"
assured her that they had been
driven off, aid that she was safe, and
her gratitude was unbounded 1t was
now 10 o'clock and after, and Patton
had not yet returned. It was useless
to expect him until morning, and ]
set about preparing the, camp for
the night. As there was. q strong
/ reliability that the two, men driv.
en- of would secure reinforce
ments and return during the night,